Robert de Niro replies in Tejpal case

Goa Crime Branch has received response from Hollywood actor Robert de Niro in connection with the rape case against Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal.

"Robert de Niro has replied to the questionnaire forwarded to him by the Crime Branch through his attorney," Deputy Inspector General of Police O P Mishra told PTI on Tuesday.

The actor's attorneys Harvey & Hackett based at New York in the reply have confirmed the presence of the woman (who has accused the Tehelka editor of rape) and Tejpal during the ThinkFest event, Mishra said, refusing to divulge the full details of the reply.

The crime branch, which had filed a charge sheet against Tejpal in the case, had sent a formal questionnaire to the Hollywood actor in January this year.

The police charge sheet mentions that the woman was sexually assaulted twice in the lift of a hotel by Tejpal, when they had gone to drop the actor and his daughter to their hotel room where the event was being held.

The crime branch charge-sheeted Tejpal before a fast track court in February this year, accusing him of raping, sexually harassing and outraging modesty of the woman.

Sources said that on March 6, 2014, the crime branch had moved an application at the fast track court in Panaji under section 173(8) of the CrPC, seeking time to include the response of a "witness outside the country" in the supplementary charge sheet.

Tejpal is currently lodged in Sada sub jail in Goa and has applied for bail before the Supreme Court.